The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-10-22

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startled, indeed, when tell you"
"WelI, tell it, dear cousin, and let
us apply the remedy, If it is so very
dreadful"
HAlas! how can / tell it But ]
I can't help it,"
| Mary.
"L:sten," said Belle, speaking as if
the effort were painful. "lt was l who
| took that last will uncle made. He
left all his property TO you, Mary, ex-
ccpt a Thousand dollars, believe, to
be paid to mama every year."
"And he made no provision for you:'
interrupted Mary.
ssThe provision he made for me was
very humiliating," answered Belle.
80, Mary, it made me angry, for uncle
treated me as if I had been a mere
child. In the will he enjoined it upon
you to give me enough to support me
provided it did not require over eight
hundred dollars"
"Don't you know l would have given
you more than that ?' asked Mary
timidly.
cit seems that uncle suspected you
might do something of the sort; so it
was provided that if you allowed me
more, then the whole property was to
be given to that hospital"
elbow would any one have known
what did with the money?' asked
! Mary.
"Uncle did not leave it to your choice
at all. He ordered that you should
take~an oath, to be administered by an
officer of the law, that you would
strictly carry out the will. So you
could not have gotten any Of tho prop
erty without taking an oath not to
give me more than eight hundred dol
lars.'
| "Surely, uncle was not in his right
mind," said Mary.
80, yes, he was," said Belle shud~
dering. s'IIe was in his senses to the
very last. o, Mary! Mary! the night
he died-it was awful! He command
ell me to burn the first will. 1 had
just read both Of them-I refused flatly
to obey him-he tried to call you only
a moment before he breathed his last.
o, never can forget the awful scene.
He. was so enraged that he tried to rise
from his bed. With his dying breath
he pronounced q cMrSe-and / have,
indeed, been cursed. 1 have robbed
you. o, have been worse than a
thief. How could you expect me to
be happy while l was stealing your
money"
mot So" said Mary earnestly.
GAIL the excuse l have" continued
Belle, sis thought l was uncle's law
full heir. 1 said 10 myself that you
had no right to his property. And in
this way / endeavored to satisfy my
conscience, but the effort was in vain.
l could not be happy. Now you can
understand why have been so wretch
ed. l will not ask you TO forgive me,
for you cannot
Mary burst into tors, threw her arms
around the unhappy girls neck, and
kissed her.
"I am glad have told you,'' sobbcd
Belle. ''The money has been curse
to me, and il l get well, ! want you tc
take it,
i "Did you burn the will:" whispered
Mary.
"No; and l am thank ful l did not
/ thought that, may be, Id better keel
it,
"Where Is it ?" asked Mary.
eIt is at the bottom of my trunk, ir
one corner. Go, get it right now. The
trunk is unlocked. / want to see it ir
your hands before l am tempted to dc
some other mean thing. / hale my
self"
BelIc cried bitterly, and Mary's emo
tons were such that she could no
speak.
"Go, get the will" said Belle pres
emily. 'The property is yours, and
never want to touch it again"
Mary, without saying word, wen
at once to Bellies trunk, and soon re-
turned with paper in her hand.
ssIs this 2" she asked.
"Let me see it," replied Belle, tax
ing it in her hands and looking at it
"Hes that is it. Take it. now Civ
up all claims to the property"
Mary opened tho will, and read for {
moment.
eyes," she said, ssit is as you say
"All l ask" said Belle, sis that yo'
, will allow me what uncle desired, if
get well. 1 will 60 in humber style
and change my habits. l know yo
r will not object to give me eight hun
dred dollars, though you have the righ
q to allow me less"
r go, Belle" cried Mary, looking a
her reproachfully, "how can you he ;
" cruel ~
~ did not Intend T. be, dear Mary
I l might have known that you are nc
Y as mean as am. I will not judge 20
any moro by own selfish uispOSitiOn